Assam: Scribes lead protest against killings by ultras

October 12, 2009 18:11 IST

With proscribed insurgent groups in the North East, especially in Assam and Manipur, training their guns on innocent civilians more often than not in their desperate attempt to remain in headlines, a group of senior journalist-citizens based in Guwahati have taken the lead in organising a protest rally against such dastardly and mindless killing of innocent people by armed insurgent groups in the region.

The group of senior journalist-citizens has appealed to the people of Assam to participate in a protest rally that will be organised for the purpose on October 15 in front of the Press Club in Guwahati.

Besides registering protest against the continuing violence and killings of innocent as perpetrated by all armed insurgent groups of North East India, the rally will also denounce Assam government for its 'irresponsible attitude' towards victims of Bhimajuli massacre that was committed by suspected National Democratic Front of Bodoland militants on October 4.

The appeal, signed by D N Bezboruah (former editor The Sentinel and former chairman of Editors' Guild of India), D N Chakrabarty (former editor of Dainik Asom, Ajir Batori and Natun Dainik), Nirupama Borgohain (Sahitya Akademy award winner littérateur and columnist) T G Baruah (chairman of The Assam Tribune group of newspapers) along with several senior journalists including Hiten Mahanta, Rupam Baruah, Mihir Deuri, Ranen Goswami, Pramod Kalita, Sabita Lahkar, Mukul Kalita, Nava Thakuria, observe that the armed insurgent groups of the region have shown scant respect for human values as they have killed even innocent people including children and women. The scribes have demanded sternest action against those perpetrators of violence.

The senior journalists further observed that even after knowing that the residents of Bhimajuli in Sonitpur district of Assam had came under threat from militants after they had decided not to pay extortion money to NDFB ultras in a public meeting held in the area on October 1, the administration failed to arrange for proper security measures to shield the innocent villagers from the ultras. Taking advantage of the situation and inaction on part of the administration, gun toting cadres of the banned militant group killed 13 innocent villagers, including women and children, besides maiming many for the rest of their life.